Sealing device having a sleeve for the passage of a connecting rod of a system for controlling the orientation of the blower blades of a turboprop engine through a partition

ABSTRACT

A sealing device for passing a connecting rod of a system for controlling a pitch of fan blades of a turboprop through a partition. The device includes a tube for fastening to the partition that is to be sealed, and a frustoconical sheath through which the connecting rod is to pass, the sheath configured to slide axially inside the tube and including, at its wider end, a sealing mechanism co-operating with the tube, and, at its narrower end, a leaktight fastener fastening to a corresponding end of the connecting rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general field of controlling thepitch of fan blades of a turboprop.

A preferred field of application of the invention is that of airplaneturboprops having two propellers.

An airplane turboprop having two propellers comprises a turbine with twocontrarotating rotors, each driving a set of unducted fan blades. Inthis type of airplane engine, the pitch of the fan blades constitutesone of the parameters used for controlling the thrust from the engine.

French patent application No. 10/51458 filed on Mar. 1, 2010 by theApplicant describes a system for controlling the pitch of fan blades ofsuch a turboprop. In that document, each blade is coupled, for adjustingits pitch, to a blade root support that is pivotally mounted on a rotaryring via bevel gearing, one of the gearwheels of the gearing beingsupported by the blade root support and the other gearwheel carrying acounterweight. An actuator centered on the axis of rotation of therotary ring and constrained to rotate with the turbine rotor isconnected to each counterweight via a radial connecting rod. Byactuating the actuator, the connecting rods act on the counterweights onthe principle of a crank shaft and a connecting rod so as to cause theblade root supports to pivot in synchronized manner.

Such a control system presents numerous advantages. In particular, it isreliable and light in weight since it possesses relatively few partscompared with prior art control systems.

The connecting rods of the system extend radially from the actuator tothe blade root supports. As a result, some of those connecting rods needin particular to pass through an oil enclosure in which various rollingbearings of the turboprop are housed. This applies in particular for theconnecting rods of the system for controlling the upstream set ofblades.

Unfortunately, such oil enclosures rotate in operation, and as a resultthe oil that is present therein is subjected to centrifugal force.Consequently, in order to prevent any outward leakage of oil from theoil enclosure, it is necessary to seal the packages where the connectingrods of the control system pass through the partitions of the oilenclosure.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is thus to satisfy this need byproposing a device that serves to seal the partition of the oilenclosure where the connecting rods of the control system passtherethrough.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a sealing devicecomprising a tube for fastening to the partition that is to be sealed,and a frustoconical sheath through which the connecting rod is to pass,the sheath being capable of sliding axially inside the tube and having,at its wider end, sealing means co-operating with the tube, and, at itsnarrower end, leaktight fastener means for fastening to a correspondingend of the connecting rod.

The passage of the connecting rod through the partition is sealed by thepresence of the sealing means between the wider end of the sheath andthe tube. Furthermore, in operation, the connecting rod of the controlsystem is subjected both to radial movements and to lateral movements.The frustoconical shape of the sheath thus enables it to avoidinterfering with the lateral movements of the connecting rod.Furthermore, the axial sliding of the sheath inside the tube serves tocompensate for the radial movements of the connecting rod.

As a result, the sealing device of the invention makes it possible toguarantee effective sealing of the oil enclosure in a turboprop withouthaving to use a flexible part that could potentially give rise toproblems of reliability and lifetime.

The sealing device of the invention also serves to decouple the“sealing” function from the “force transmission” function. The forcetransmission function is performed by the connecting rod, while thesealing function is provided by the sheath. Such decoupling makes itpossible to limit the interference between the two functions and thusmakes each of them easier to achieve. In particular, sealing at thewider end of the sheath is unaffected by any possible deformation of theconnecting rod.

Finally, the sealing device serves to limit connecting rod bucklingphenomena. The connecting rod may potentially buckle in the lengthdirection, but not in the width direction since the sheath limits anybuckling in that direction.

The wider end of the sheath may have a gasket at its peripheryco-operating with the inside of the tube in order to provide sealingbetween the sheath and the tube.

The narrower end of the sheath may be closed and pivotally mounted abouta pivot pin of the corresponding end of the connecting rod in order tofasten the sheath to the connecting rod in sealed manner.

The invention also provides a system for controlling the pitch of fanblades of a turboprop having at least one set of adjustable-pitch fanblades, said set being constrained to rotate with a rotary ringmechanically connected to a rotary casing, each blade of the set beingcoupled for adjusting its pitch to a blade root support pivotallymounted on the rotary ring by means of bevel gearing comprising a firsttoothed wheel secured to the blade root support and centered on an axisthat is radial relative to the rotary ring, and a second toothed wheelsecured to the rotary ring and centered on an axis that is tangentialrelative to said rotary ring, the second toothed wheel carrying acounterweight that is eccentric relative to its axis of rotation, thesystem further including an actuator centered on the axis of rotation ofthe rotary ring, constrained to rotate with the rotary casing, andhaving its rod connected to each counterweight by radial connecting rodsand bellcranks, the system further comprising, for each radialconnecting rod, a sealing device as defined above.

The invention also provides a turboprop having two propellers, includinga turbine having two contrarotating rotary casings and two sets ofadjustable-pitch fan blades constrained to rotate with two rotary ringsrespectively connected to the rotary casings, the pitch of the fanblades of at least one of the sets being controlled by a system asdefined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appearfrom the following description made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings that have no limiting character. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a two-propellerturboprop having a propeller blade pitch control system to which theinvention applies in particular;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of FIG. 1 showing the location of the sealingdevice of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the movements of the control systemof FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4A to 4C show the FIG. 2 sealing device in various differentpositions; and

FIG. 5 shows more precisely the sealed fastening of the sheath of thesealing device of the invention on the end of the connecting rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a highly diagrammatic view of an embodiment of an airplaneturboprop 10 of the type having two propellers.

The turboprop 10 comprises in particular a longitudinal axis 12 and anannular nacelle 14 arranged axially around the longitudinal axis. Fromupstream to downstream it also comprises a compressor 16, a combustionchamber 18, and a “power” turbine 20 driving two rotary casings 22 a and22 b in rotation (either directly or indirectly).

The turboprop 10 also has an upstream (or front) set 24 a and adownstream (or rear) set 24 b of adjustable-pitch fan blades 26. Moreparticularly, the fan blades 26 in each set 24 a, 24 b are mounted onrespective rotary rings 28 a, 28 b in the form of annular platformscentered on the longitudinal axis 12 of the turboprop.

Each rotary casing 22 a, 22 b carries and drives in rotation arespective one of the rotary rings 28 a, 28 b having one of the sets 24a, 24 b of adjustable-pitch fan blades mounted thereon.

The turboprop 10 also has a system for controlling the pitch of the fanblades in the upstream and downstream sets 24 a and 24 b. The controlsystem is described in French patent application No. 10/51458 filed onMar. 1, 2010 by the Applicant, and the content thereof is incorporatedherein by reference.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control system has two cylindrical actuators 30a, 30 b actuating mechanisms for changing the pitch of the fan blades inthe upstream and downstream sets, these mechanisms being made up inparticular of connecting rods that are described below.

The actuators 30 a, 30 b are in alignment on the longitudinal axis 12with coaxial rods 32 a, 32 b, and they are constrained to rotate with ashaft of the rotary casing 22 b that drives the downstream set 24 b inrotation.

The respective rods 32 a, 32 b of these two actuators move intranslation along the longitudinal axis 12, with the outer rod 32 a ofthe actuator 30 a serving to adjust the pitch of the fan blades of theupstream set 24 a and the inner rod 32 b of the actuator 30 b serving toadjust the pitch of the fan blades of the downstream set 24 b.

A rolling bearing 34 is mounted between the outer rod 32 a of theactuator 30 a and the mechanism for changing the pitch of the fan bladesof the upstream set in order to transmit axial forces from the outer rodto the mechanism while leaving these two entities free to rotate inopposite directions.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each blade 26 in the sets 24a, 24 b is coupled to a blade root support 36 that is pivotally mountedon the rotary ring 28 a, 28 b by means of bevel gearing 38. This bevelgearing is constituted by a first toothed wheel 40 secured to the bladeroot support and centered on an axis 42 that is radial relative to therotary ring, and a second toothed wheel 44 that is secured to the rotaryring and that is centered on an axis 46 that is tangential relative tothe rotary ring.

The number of teeth in the first toothed wheel 40 is selected to beequal to substantially twice the number of teeth on the second toothedwheel 44. Thus, turning the second toothed wheel through 90° will causethe first toothed wheel to turn through about 45°.

In the bevel gearing, each second toothed wheel 44 carries acounterweight 48 that is off-center relative to the axis of rotation 46of the wheel. The mass of the counterweight is predefined in particularas a function of the characteristics of the fan blades.

Each mechanism for changing the pitch of the fan blades also includes aplurality of connection arms connecting the rod 32 a, 32 b of thecorresponding actuator 30 a, 30 b to the counterweights 48 of thecorresponding set of fan blades.

The function of these connection arms is to convert the axial movementof the actuator rod into synchronized rotation of the counterweights ofthe corresponding set of fan blades about their respective pitch axes46.

For this purpose, each connection arm comprises in particular a radialconnecting rod 50 a, 50 b passing through a casing arm 52 a, 52 b of theturboprop and having one end connected to the correspondingcounterweight and the other end connected to one branch of a bellcrank54 a, 54 b having its other branch connected to the rod 32 a, 32 b ofthe corresponding actuator.

Each connection arm also has a guide connecting rod (not shown in thefigures) with one end connected to the connection between the twobranches of the bellcrank and with its other end acting as a guidesupport for the radial connecting rod.

In association with the actuators 30 a, 30 b, the turboprop 10 also hasan oil enclosure 56 having arranged therein the various rolling bearingsthat provide the rotor shafts with rotary support (and in particular therolling bearing 34).

This oil enclosure (which is subjected to the effects of centrifugalforce due to the rotation of the rotors) is centered on the longitudinalaxis 12 of the turboprop and is defined radially on the outside by anannular partition 58 secured to the rotor driving the upstream set 24 a.

This partition 58 comprises a double wall, and the radial connectingrods 58 a of the mechanism for changing the pitch of the fan blades ofthe upstream set pass therethrough.

In order to avoid any leak of oil from the oil enclosure 56, it isnecessary to provide sealing where the radial connecting rods 50 a passthrough the partition 58.

For this purpose, the invention provides for each radial connecting rodto be associated with a sealing device that comprises in particular ahollow tube 60 of oblong or annular shape passing right through thepartition 58 that is to be sealed and fastened thereto (e.g. by weldingor by screw-fastening if the tube is made of metal).

The sealing device also has a frustoconical sheath 62 capable of slidingaxially inside the tube 60, this sheath being mounted around the radialconnecting rod 50 a. More precisely, the narrower end of the sheath isfastened in leaktight manner to the end of the radial connecting rodthat is connected to the bellcrank (this end is also referred to as theroot of the radial connecting rod).

Going from this narrower end, the shape of the sheath flares to itswider end that is provided with means for sealing with the tube. Forexample, the wider end of the sheath includes an oblong or annulargasket 64 at its periphery that co-operates with the inside of the tubein order to provide sealing between the sheath and the tube (see FIG.4A).

As a result, the sealing device of the invention makes it possible toguarantee effective sealing of the oil enclosure 56 that is definedradially on the outside by the partition 58.

In operation, the radial connecting rod 50 a of the control system issubjected both to radial movements (i.e. parallel to its own axis) andto lateral movements. As shown in FIG. 4B, the frustoconical shape ofthe sheath 62 enables it to avoid interfering with the lateral movementsof the connecting rod. As for the radial movements of the connectingrod, they are absorbed by the sheath sliding inside the tube 60 that isfastened to the partition 58 for sealing (see FIGS. 4A and 4C).

It should be observed that the narrower end of the sheath 62 is closedand pivotally mounted about a pivot pin 66 of the root of the radialconnecting rod 50 a. More precisely, as shown in FIG. 5, the root of theradial connecting rod is mounted on a ball joint 68 that has the pin ofa clevis 70 passing therethrough. This ball joint and also the root ofthe radial connecting rod are housed in the sheath 62 which is closed atthis end. Thus, the oil contained in the oil enclosure cannot escape viathis narrower end of the sheath.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A sealing device for passing a connecting rod of asystem for controlling pitch of fan blades of a turboprop through apartition, comprising: a tube for fastening to the partition that is tobe sealed; and a frustoconical sheath through which the connecting rodis to pass, the sheath configured to slide axially inside the tube andincluding, at its wider end, sealing means co-operating with the tube,and, at its narrower end, leaktight fastener means for fastening to acorresponding end of the connecting rod.
 7. A device according to claim6, wherein the wider end of the sheath further includes a gasket at itsperiphery co-operating with an inside of the tube to provide sealingbetween the sheath and the tube.
 8. A device according to claim 6,wherein the narrower end of the sheath is closed and pivotally mountedabout a pivot pin of the corresponding end of the connecting rod tofasten the sheath to the connecting rod in a sealed manner.
 9. A systemfor controlling pitch of fan blades of a turboprop comprising: at leastone set of adjustable-pitch fan blades, the set being constrained torotate with a rotary ring mechanically connected to a rotary casing,each blade of the set being coupled for adjusting its pitch to a bladeroot support pivotally mounted on the rotary ring by a bevel gearingincluding a first toothed wheel secured to the blade root support andcentered on an axis that is radial relative to the rotary ring, and asecond toothed wheel secured to the rotary ring and centered on an axisthat is tangential relative to the rotary ring, the second toothed wheelcarrying a counterweight that is eccentric relative to its axis ofrotation; an actuator centered on the axis of rotation of the rotaryring, constrained to rotate with the rotary casing, and including itsrod connected to each counterweight by radial connecting rods andbellcranks; and for each radial connecting rod a sealing deviceaccording to claim
 6. 10. A turboprop comprising: two propellers,including a turbine including two contrarotating rotary casings and twosets of adjustable-pitch fan blades constrained to rotate with tworotary rings respectively connected to the rotary casings, a pitch ofthe fan blades of at least one of the sets being controlled by a systemaccording to claim 9.